 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Disney's A Christmas Carol
- Review Date: October 27, 2009
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
3-D adaptation of classic holiday tale may scare young kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, unlike The Polar Express, this Robert Zemeckis adaptation of a classic holiday tale is too intense both visually and in content for families with very young children. At its heart, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a ghost story, and not only are the many spirits very creepy at times, but the 3-D technology makes certain scenes -- as when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come's red-eyed black stallions jump out at the audience -- all the scarier. And the realistic nature of the motion capture technology often makes the movie seem more like live action (and thus more intense) than animation. But on the other hand, the language is mild (British slang like "bugger" and "blast") and the drinking limited to Christmas toasts. And the messages are all quite positive, as Ebenezer Scrooge's (Jim Carrey) transformation is one of literature's ultimate stories of redemption and hope, even in the bleakest of times.
What's the story?
Charles Dickens' 19th-century classic comes to life again in this 3-D adaptation, which faithfully follows the original tale. Seven Christmas Eves after the death of his business partner, Jacob Marley (voiced by Gary Oldman), miserly money lender Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) spends the day complaining about the town's holiday cheer ("Bah, humbug!"), terrorizing his put-upon clerk Bob Cratchit (also Oldman), and refusing his nephew Fred's (Colin Firth) invitation to Christmas supper. That night, Scrooge is visited by Marley's ghost, who informs him that three spirits will appear to him to offer one last chance to change his life before it's too late. Scrooge is then summoned by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come (all played by Carrey), each of whom gives the crotchety old man a peek at defining moments in his life and possible future -- as well as the life of poor-but-happy Cratchit, whose crippled son Tiny Tim (Oldman again) is sickly but still filled with holiday cheer.
Is it any good?
Director Robert Zemeckis continues to perfect the motion-capture animation he revolutionized with The Polar Express, and the result is quite breathtaking in A CHRISTMAS CAROL. From the pimples on an adolescent's face to the coins on a corpse's eyes, the technology accounts for a remarkable degree of detail. The 3-D, in particular, is fantastic -- albeit occasionally frightening (a few shots may cause audiences to jump from their seats). With a rubber-faced actor like Carrey as the star, it's no wonder that the characters' expressions and gestures are so startlingly realistic. Of course, the downside to all of the realism is that the ghost scenes are actually quite frightening -- not Beowulf terrifying, but downright scary nonetheless. The spook factor is unfortunate for parents who will naturally assume that animation plus holiday classic equals cinematic fun for the whole family.
For those with harder-to-rattle clans, this is a touching and haunting adaptation of a story most of us know by heart in one form or the other. Carrey's genius at physical comedy is evident throughout the film in small moments like when Scrooge does a jig, sings along with carolers, or slides down a railing. While there aren't many huge laughs, there's enough levity to break through the otherwise somber nature of Scrooge's time-traveling, life-changing visits to Christmases past, present, and future. Oldman and Firth are, as always, fine supporting players, and Robin Wright Penn (a Beowulf alum) adds a wistful, feminine vulnerability to the only woman Scrooge ever loved. With the current economic doom and gloom, this is a well-timed holiday narrative about hope, redemption, and love.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the lessons that Scrooge learns. How does he change throughout the movie? What is the story trying to teach us about not just Christmas, but about human behavior in general?
How are the themes of A Christmas Carol still relevant more than 200 years after it was originally written? Kids: How can you act generously during the holidays and year round?
Do you think the 3-D technology enhances the movie, or would it have been as good/better without it?
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AGE
Miss-Rated, but good.
I am 11 years old and I saw this movie. I really enjoyed it, I thought the message was good, but there were some scenes where I had to cover my eyes. I like scary and violent, but this movie genuinely scared me. And if my seven year old sister were to see this movie, she would've been scared out of her wits. It is very miss-rated. It definitely should be PG-13. I also don't thing Scrooge is not a very good role model because he is always cranky and concerned about money and workhouses. I am so glad I did not see it in 3-D. If you are going to see this movie with your kids, you watch it first because some of the images are truly scary and disturbing.
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AGE
relentless disturbing and terriffying scenes. my kids ( 9 and 6) begged to leave after about 50 mins.
lots of disturbing supernatural images
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AGE
Non-Stop Terror; Atmosphere of Dread
Many parents will take their young children to see this film over the Christmas vacation. After all, it's Disney, it's Charles Dickens, and it's animated. Most people are probably expecting a light, sweet piece of fluff for the wee ones to enjoy.
Those parents will be horrified once they actually start watching this joyless adaptation of Dickens' beloved novel. The film has a constant atmosphere of dread. The most frightening aspects of the original story are magnified heavily. Not only are the ghosts themselves incredibly frightening, but the overall atmosphere of the film is one of terror and dread. Children were crying in the theater; I could see an ADULT getting nightmares after seeing this. Don't get me wrong; this is no "Cannibal Holocaust" by any means, but it's still far too scary for its target audience. If your children enjoy horror films, they may enjoy this joyless, harrowing version of A Christmas Carol. Otherwise... be warned. This is NOT the Christmas Carol you grew up with.
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AGE
While I watched it with my three boys, I kept thinking: "This is a horror movie for children!" There were several grotesque scenes! These include: when Marley's face on the door knocker "explodes" with teeth flying everywhere, When Marley's jaw separates from his face in a horrifying way while confronting Scrooge in his bedroom, and when the Ghost of Christmas Present laughs, disintegrating into an old grey man -- and then a skeleton at the end of that scene.
For what it's worth, my boys said that they liked it (6, 9 & 11).
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AGE
Very frightening- should be rated PG-13.
I am 14, and I was scared during the whole movie. At one point I was literally shaking, and started crying. There were many pop out scenes, and scenes that were just frightening. I can't believe this wasn't PG-13 because that's what it should have been. The part that was most frightening for me was the black horses that were chasing Scroodge. Another part that was scary, was the face on the door. It jumps out with a frightening expression when you aren't expecting it. There were little kids that were crying during the movie because they were scared. Overall it was a good movie, but the whole thing was very intense and stressful. I only reccomend this for pre-teens and up. It's just too scary for little kids!
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Kid, 10 years old
March 5, 2010
AGE
bad
I hate it so much it's an awful movie! it is a little scary in 3D.
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AGE
Too Horrifying for Kids; Too Horrible for Adults
I am appalled; Jim Carrey, I hope you were tricked into doing this movie. I am an avid fan of Mr. Carrey's work, but this is just disastorous. It's too terrifying for children (I saw kids leave with their parents crying their eyes out) and too unfunny for adults (like myself), and still a bit creepy for some adults. PARENTS: This is incredibly scary for children and even some tweens. Beware. Also, why did they have to show those images? It's not aproppriate in a children's movie or a christmas movie, not to mention a children's CHRISTMAS movie! Well, thanks for reading - Movie Man
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AGE
Definitely not for under 15, not enjoyable for those who can withstand the mature presentation
I was really disappointed in the movie. I'm used to the many other versions of this tale that really balance the dramatic hauntings with the fun of scrooge's past and the very happy ending. The movie is 96 minutes long and mostly scary and sad. The opening of the movie is Marley's death...Marley is in a casket in what looks like a garage...Scrooge takes the gold coins off his eyes to pay for the burial. The entrance of Marley as a ghost really got scary...there's a part where Marley's fabric around his head loosens and his jaw almost falls off while trying to talk and his tongue hangs out-really REALLY scary...then he talks using his hands to move his jaw. The Ghost of Christmas Past is a flaming candle with a face and he talks really scary and breathy as a ghost is usually portrayed in adult media. The flashbacks were predominately showing sad stories of scrooge's past ex: young school flashback: he was sad & alone in the school because his friend's ditched him...older school flashback: his younger sister runs in to say that Dad has invited him home again and she makes a point to imply how their Dad is changed and not abusive anymore...shortly after the ghost makes a point to say that his sweet sister died after giving birth to his nephew. Short happy flashback to Fezziwig's ball, but soon is the longer argument between he and the young woman he was romantic with that ends in their break-up. Ghost of Christmas Present seems pleasant but at the end of the sequence he has 2 demon-looking kids under his robe come out and age into adults instantly...one (Ignorance) a guy with a knife and jail bars fall on him and the other (Want) a female prostitute who nastily dances behind scrooge...the ghost then has a dramatic painful death as you watch his entire body age and decompose all the way to dust. The last ghost is really creepy and there's a long chase scene where black horses with red-glowing eyes chase scrooge. There's a scene where scrooge is hanging on as not to fall further into his grave as the casket opens and flames below. The ending/happy sequence is short and doesn't show scrooge going to the home of Cratchet, only his nephew's dinner party. The scene with cratchet doesn't include cratchet's family, only he and scrooge at the office the day after Christmas. Anyhow, a very scary adaption to me. My husband and I were scared and the kids in the theatre were crying. Too scary. The whole message of goodwill, peace, and hope is lost with the majority of depressing/sad/scary overtones the movie portrays for character building. I say, two thumbs way, way down.
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AGE
Terrible movie for children!!
Absolutely the worst Disney Movie that has ever been made. Though the story and the graphics are good, this movie is not suited at all for children under 12. It should NOT have been rated PG. I HAVE A 7 and 10 year old girls that were scared to death. Both are worried about nightmares tonight. I cannot believe Disney would mis-lead the public the way they did on this one. I am beyond disappointed, Im actually mad about it. And I spent $40.00 on scaring my girls to death!! Thanks Disney. Unbelievable.
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AGE
I thought it was a bit funny. But it's not like some of the "bad" things mentioned above are really all that "bad". Dancing isn't all that sexy, and the violence and scariness....all right, I admit that might be a bit scary for my sisters (6 and 8), but they aren't going to wake up screaming. Even if I have trained them well (hehheh), it wasn't all that bad. I've seen a LOT worse in childrens movies (cough Wild Things cough). And the small wine scene won't turn them into alcoholics. I guess it just depends on your point of view. Over-protective or realistic? The line is very thin, and a bit vague, but if your child is REALLY easily scared, not taking them is realistic. If they like a good scare, or aren't easily scared, than not taking them is over-protective. Find that line and use it.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, book characters, holidays, monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Robert Zemeckis |
| Cast: | Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Jim Carrey, Robin Wright Penn |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 6, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | November 16, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | scary sequences and images |
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